5 Things that Should Never be in Your Bug Out Bag

When assembling your bug out bag, it’s easy to get carried away and start throwing in every knife and flashlight you own because you might need it. Even though you may think that putting everything in your bug out bag won’t do you any harm, there are a few things that could, quite literally, be holding you back.

Here are 5 things that should never be in your bug out bag:

Too Much Water

Water is a survival staple, and while having water on you is great, having a way to purify water is even better. If you were to carry enough water for just one day of survival with you, you’d be carrying as much as a newborn baby. Instead of lugging around 8.5lbs of water, pack a filter that only weighs a few ounces.

Large Tent

If you really, really need a large tent to be able to accommodate a small herd of people, then you should probably have one person dedicated to carrying that tent. Large tents take up too much space, and the poles that come with them are too heavy to put in your bug out bag. While even a small camp tent might be functional, a tarp or emergency blanket would be ideal.

Heavy Bedding

The only time you should be carrying heavy bedding in your bug out bag is if the temperatures are cold enough to call for it. In many cases, you can survive with just dry clothes, an emergency blanket, or a sleeping bag.

Heavy Tools with a Singular Purpose

Quality tools are the backbone of your bug out bag. But carrying one ten pound tool that you spent the big bucks on isn’t going to do you any good when it only has one purpose. Instead, invest in a quality multi-tool that’ll give you more space in your bag and can serve many purposes.

Electronics

Carrying small items like emergency radios or a cell phone makes sense, but bringing things like laptops, DVD players, or tablets is just a waste of space.

The best way to make sure your bug out bag is packed with the proper gear is to ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” If the answer is yes, then throw it on in there.